Anabolic Steroids: Misuse

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department is making in tackling the illegal use of anabolic steroids; and what steps she is taking to make young people aware of the dangers of such use.

Caroline Flint: The Department recognises the harms associated with the misuse of anabolic steroids.
	FRANK, the cross-Government campaign which provides advice to young people in relation to substance misuse, includes information on the harms associated with the misuse of anabolic steroids via its website, helpline and literature.
	The harmful short and long-term effects of anabolic steroid use are also described in the most recent version of the Department publication Dangerousness of drugs: A guide to the risks and harms associated with substance misuse (January 2003).
	The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is responsible for the funding of education programmes in schools. In 2004, DfES published 'Drugs: Guidance for School', guidance for primary and secondary schools on all matters relating to drug education and the management of drugs within the school community. This guidance sets out the issues relating to drug education that schools should cover with children of different ages, and includes drugs available on prescription among the substances that this education should cover.
	The table shows prevalence of anabolic steroid use in young people, taken from figures in a school survey of 11 to 16-year-olds, recently published within the headline figures of 'Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2006'.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Anabolic steroids 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 
		
	
	Figures for the proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds reporting having used anabolic steroids in the last year is shown in the table. The results have been taken from 'Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2005-06 British Crime Survey(1)' (England and Wales).
	(1) This statistical bulletin reports on the results of 29,932 respondents who completed the drugs module of the BCS and an additional 2,259 16 to 24-year-olds who were interviewed as part of the 2005-06 BCS youth boost.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Year  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Anabolic steroids 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.3 
		
	
	Anabolic steroids are only available legally via prescription and are controlled as a Class C drug.
	Anabolic steroids are included on the world anti-doping agencies (WADA) prohibited list. This list sets out the substances that are prohibited for athletes. Educating athletes of all ages about the consequences of doping comprises part of the anti-doping programme, and is delivered through UK Sports renowned 100 per cent. Myalgic encephalomyelitis education programme.
	UK Sport, the United Kingdom's national anti-doping organisation runs an anti-doping programme, together with sports' national governing bodies, which is aimed at deterring athletes from using prohibited substances, and to catch those who do. Currently typical sanctions for those caught using prohibited substances range from a two year ban from sport for a first offence to a life time ban for a second.